Sheet-feeding machine



Nov. ll, 1941. L. l.. MATTHEWS 2,251,969

SHEET'FEEDING' MACHINE Filed April 4, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 11, 1941. l.. L. MATTHEWS 2,261,969

SHEET-FEEDING MACHINE Filed April 4, 1940 Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q wn 4Patented Nov.,11, 194.1

UNITED STATESV'PATENT OFFICE.

2,261,969 Vsnaar-FEEDING MACHINE f Louis Landai Matthews, Westerly, R. I., assigner to Maxscn Automatic Machinery Company, Westerly, R. I., a corporation of Rhode Island Application April 4, 1940, serial Np. 327,859

you. 1st- 68) The present invention relates to machines for feeding sheet material, such as paper and the like. The4 invention is particularly related to machines involving high speeds, like those used at paper mills for cutting webs from a roll or rolls into sheets, and feeding the sheets, by means of more or less horizontal conveyor tapes, into alay-boyor other magazine, and more particularly s till to machines of this character in which the cutting knife is rotary. The sheets are fed by high-speed tapes to low-speed tapes by which they become overlapped, and it is in this overlapped condition that they arrive in the `lay-boy. y

In one type of machine of the above-described character, the web of paper is led to the cutter at a downward incline, and the sheets, after they are cut from the web, continue to travel at the downward incline by their momentum, to tape conveyors. The head of each sheet is gripped between the tapes to feed the sheet forward into a lay-boy. When the sheets are long, this gripping is advantageous. When the sheets cut from tion of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view corresponding to Fig. 3, but in end elevation.

A web 3 is illustrated as led from a roll or rolls 50 of paper between feed rolls 5l and 52 and over a stationary hed knife or cutter 4, mounted upon a cutter unit 69. The term web, paper, sheet, or its equivalent, will `be employed to denote either a single layer or aplurality of superposed layers of the paper or other mate' rial. A rotary kcutter 56, operated by mechanism 55, cooperates with the cutter 4 to c ut the traveling web into sheets 56. The invention is equally applicable to use with previously cui'l sheets. Owing to the feeding action of the rolls 5i and 52, aided by gravity, the'sheets 55 travel,

at ladcwnward incline, toward high-speed conveyor tapes or belts 2, that are mounted over a the web are shorter than the length of the peripheral path of travel of the rotary-knife blade, however, this blade must obviously travel faster than the web stock. in order that it may return to the stock in suflicient season to make the next cut of a sheet of the same-size length. Because of the greater cutter speed, there is a tendency roll 66 and other rolls (not shown). 'The mounting of the tapes 2 over these rolls is such as to cause`the belts 2 to become tensioned, so as to occupy amormalposition, illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, as hereinafter more fully explained.

During such travel, the heads" of the .sheets mayengage a stationary inclined guide board ll, disposed between the cutter 6 and the tapes 2, or a line of sloping or inclinedly disposed tapes (not shown), described in a copending application, Serial No. 326,975, iiled March 30, 1940. The

- ,belts or tapes 2 are disposed approximately horifor the cutter, during its next revolution, to overtake the sheet cut during 'the previous revlution, causing the tail of the sheet to become hooked or Whipped in front of the fast-traveling k-nife. The consequent buckling of the tail of the sheet results not only in damaging the sheet, by causing cracking or tearing, at the 'sharp part of the bend in the tail of the sheet,

but also in nterposing the tail as an obstruction to the travel of the head of the nextfollowing sheets, thereby interfering with the smooth free travel of the latter, and causing the sheets to become jumbledinto a waste mass.

It is therefore an object of the lpresent inven-A in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a, machine embodying the invention in preferred form; Fig. 2 is a fragmentaryside elevation, upon a larger scale, showing the parts in the full-line position of Fig. 1, part ofthe tapes 2 being broken away; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but with the parts in the dotted-line posizontal, substantially parallel, to the bed knife d, at a level below the level at which the fed between the rolls 5i and 5 2. A cooperating belt or tape conveyor 6 cooperates with the conveyor 2 by engaging corresponding conveyor belts or tapes to feed the sheets received from the cuttlrs further, ultimately into a lay-'boy (not s own). The cooperating conveyor 6 is mounted and' tensioned independently of the rolls of the conveyor 2 undera roll and around a roll 68. The lower portion of the-roll 6, when the vroll occupies its normal position, illustrated in Fig. 3,

normally Aengages-the conveyor 2 at a predeter mined point, hereinafter more fully referred to.` AThe tapes 2 and/6 are actuated by'mechanism 58, acting upon the rolls 66 and 68, desirably at a speed approximately ten percent faster than the speed of the web 3, as ,determined by the feed rolls 52. Thefmechanism 58 mayV be in the form of a linkvchain engaging sprocket wheels upon the shafts that 1t turns. The m11 a is shown4 positionedto the left of the rolls 66 and 68, and

. .the roll 66 `is s'hown raised slightly 'above the tapes 2 to provide a'space in which the tapes 2 and 6 may bite the heads 62 of the oncoming sheets. I

The rotary cutter 54 is operated by mechanism 55 at a peripheral speed that may be either less or greater than the speed of the web. In theA former case, the sheets cut from the web will be of-greater length than the length of the periphweb i's i roll ,8.

` ydrive a loop before it reaches the roll 68 of the tapes Y 6, with undesirable consequences, as before described. Under such'circumstances, it may be desirable that vthe head of the sheet be not gripped between the roll 8 and the tapes 2.

To this end, the roll S may be provided with a latch 1t, or similar cam or other arrangement,

permitting it to be raised above the tapes 2. lhe latch may be actuated by means of a handle 1i;

when the handle 1l occupies the position illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, corresponding to the dotted-line position of Fig. l, the roll 8 may be lowered; and when occupying the position illustrated in Fig. 2, corresponding to the full-line`position ci Fig. 1, raised. The handle 'il may be actuated from the position of Fig. 2 to that of Figs. 3 and 4 and back' again merely by turning it about a pivot 16; the end of the handle 1| then describes the dot-and-dash curved path illustrated in Fig. l. The latch 14 is shown as a cam that is -rigid with the handle 1| sor as to turn therewith. Upon the cam 14 rests bygravity the lower end 18 of a'. vertically disposed bar 80 at the upper end of which is mounted a spindle 82 about which the roll 8 is journaled. The bar 80 is free to move vertically by gravity, being guided in its vertical movement by pins 84 extending freely in a vertically disposed slot 88 of the bar 80 and iixed in a frame portion 88 of the machine.' When the handle 1| is actuated from the position of Fig. 2 to that of Figs. 3 and 4therefor`e,

The lower tapes 2 are maintained by tension,

as hereinabove described, in substantially the said normal position, illustrated in Figs. 2 and '3, irrespective of the position of adjustment of the roll 8, and irrespective of the position occupied by the tapes 8. The upper tapes 6, however, occupy their said normal position only whenv the roll @l is adjusted to its lower position, as illustrated in Fig. 3. When the roll 8 becomes adjusted to its upper position, to separate the roll 8 from the conveyor 2, the lower reaches oi the upper tapes B follow the roll s upward, so as to become disposed above their normal position, as illustrated in Fig. 2, permitting separation of the tapes 2 and 6 at the above-described position, predetermined -by the roll 8.

By this simple adjustment of the roll 8 by a small definite amount, from the position illustrated in Fig. 3 to that oi Fig. 2, to provide an the cam 14 assumes a position such that they bar 80 descends by gravity on to a low part of the cam 14, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, carrying the roll 8 with it.` When the handle 1i is returned tcfthe position of Fig. 2, the high part of the cam 14 raises the bar 80, raising also the When in the Vlow position, the roll.8 engages the ttom tapes 2,' so as to provide a deilnite etween the top and the`bottom tapes 6.

and 2. 'The tapes 2 and Spare thus caused normally to occupy anormal position at thel said point -predetermined `by the lower position of the roll 8, at which point the tapes 2 and 6 normally engage, so as to be enabled to grip the heads 62 "of the sheets 56 between the roll 8 and the conveyorl 2 las the sheets are received by the tapes from the cutters 4 and 54. .This is desirable to carry along heavy, long sheets of stock. In this t lowf position, `however, the eiiect is injurious on Vshort sheets because the heads of the short sheets i become positively locked against even slight slipf page between the tapes 2 and 8. Such slippage would be desirable for the reason that the knife for'a brief period engages the tails of the short sheets to push the sheets ahead more rapidly thanthe tapes 2 and 6 that grip the heads of the sheets can carry them away. When cutting short sheets, therefore, the roll 8 may be adjusted to the high position, in which no positive bite occurs between ythe top and bottom tapes I and2; This gives a slight amount of freedom to the short-sheet paper without letting \it -get out of 'the controliof lthe tapes 2 and 8. The heads `62 of the smaller-length sheets become thus enabled' to pass freelyat the said point predetermined by the roll 8`, wi`thout becoming gripped between the conveyors 2 'and 2 'or the roll l at that point.

open mouthat the said point predetermined by the roll 8, therefore, it becomes possible to adapt the same machine for operation either upon long-size sheets or short-size sheets, at will, merely by releasing the bite of the tapes on the short sheets. So releasing the bite enables the heads of the short sheets to slip in between the tapes 2 and 6 atthe point predetermined by the position of the roll 8, thus enabling the tails 61 of the short sheets to travel out of the path of whipping action of the rotary cutter 54, preventing the cracking of the tails 6J that would take pla'ce if the heads 62 of the short sheets were ilrmly gripped at the saidv predetermined point.

Modifications will occur to persons skilledin l. A machine of the character described'hav` ing, in combination, cooperating cutters for cutting a traveling web into sheets, cooperating conveyors for receiving the sheets from the cutters and for thereafter feeding the sheets, the conveyorseach normally occupying a normal position at a predetermined point at which the4 conveyorsinormally grip the heads of tlie sheets as the sheets are received from the cutters, means whereby one of the conveyors may be disposed out of its normal position at the point to separate it from the other conveyor at the point, and

means for maintaining the other conveyor in substantially its normal position at the point irrespective ofthe position occupied by the. said one-conveyor, whereby the heads of the sheets become enabled to pass freely without becoming gripped between the conveyors at'the point.

2. A machine of the character described having, in combination, cooperating cutters one of which is rotary for cutting a traveling web into sheets, cooperating conveyors for receiving thel sheets from the cutters and for thereafter` feeding the sheets, the conveyors each normally occupying a normal position at a predetermined point at which'the conveyors normally grip the heads oi -the sheets as the sheets are received from the cutters, means for actuating the rotary cutter at a peripheral speed greater than the I speed of travel of the web to produce sheets cut from the web having a smaller length than the length of the peripheral path of travel of the rotary cutter, means whereby,l one o! the `con-A veyors may be disposed out of. its normal position at the point to separate it from the other conveyor at the point, and means for maintaining theother,` conveyor in substantially its normal agences positionat the point irrespective of the position l occupied by the said one conveyor, whereby the heads of the said smaller-length sheets become enabled to pass freely without becoming gripped between the conveyors at the point.

3. A machine of the character described having, in combination, a stationary 'cutter and a .enabled to pass lfreely without becoming gripped a between the conveyors at the point.

' 6. A machine of the character` described having, in combination, ,a stationary cutter and a cooperating rotarycutter for cutting a traveling web into sheets, a 'conveyor adapted to occupy a normal position, a cooperatingconveyor cooperating with the first-named conveyor to receive the sheets from the cutters and thereafter to feed the sheets, the cooperating conveyor havin ga.v roll normally in engagement with the firstnamed conveyor to permit the conveyors normally to grip the heads of the sheets between the-'roll and the first-named conveyor as the` sheets are received from the cutters, means for separating the roll from the first-named conveyor, and` means, for maintaining the. iirstnamed conveyor in substantially its normalposition irrespectivey of the positiony of the '-roll,l

whereby Ithe heads of 1the sheets become enabled to pass freely between the conveyors without becomingiglfipped by the roll.y 'l

4,'Amachine of the character described havweb into'sheets, a belt conveyor adapted to ocupy a normal position, a cooperating belt conveyor cooperating with the flrst-named conveyor to receive the sheets from the cutters and thereafter to feed the sheets, the cooperating conveyor being mounted over rolls one of which is normally. disposed in engagement with the rstnamed conveyor at a predetermined point to permit the conveyors normally to grip the heads of the sheets between the said one roll and the ,first-named conveyor as the sheets are Vreceived from the cutters, means for separating the said one roll from the first-named conveyor, and

means for maintaining the iirst-named conveyor cooperating rotary cutter for cutting atraveling web into sheets of predetermined length subcooperating rotary cutter for cuttingv a traveling. lweb intosheets, a conveyor adapted to occupy a' normal position, a'ucooperating conveyor cooperating withsthe first-named conveyorv to receive the sheets'from thecutters and thereafter to feed the sheets, the cooperating conveyor having a roll normally-in engagement With'the firstnamed conveyor to permit the conveyors n ormally to grip the 'heads of the sheets `between the roll and `the first-named conveyor las the sheets are received from the.cutters,means for actuating the rotary cutter at a peripheral speed for separating the roll from the first-namedgreater than the speed of travel of the web in order to produce s heets cut from the web having a smaller length thanthe length of the peripheral path of travel of the rotary'cutter, means conveyor.. and' means for maintaining 'the rst- 'named conveyor in substantially its normal posiing, in combination, la stationary cutter` and a vcooperating rotary cutter for cutting a traveling iton irrespective of the position of the,roll, whereby the heads of the sheets becomel enabled to' pass freely between the conveyors coming gripped by the roll.

. 7. A machine of vthe character described havwithout bel ing, in combination, a stationary 'cutter and .a

cooperating rotary cutter for cutting a. traveling web into sheets, a belt conveyor, roll means over which the conveyor is mounted and tensioned,

a cooperating belt conveyor adapted to engage vthe first-named conveyor tolfed between the conveyors the sheets cut lby the cutters, 'roll means independent of the rst-named roll means and over which .the cooperating conveyor is 4 mounted and tensioned independently of the ing the sheets, the conveyors each normally having a normal position at a predetermined point at which the conveyors normally grip theheads of the sheets as the sheets are received from the cutters, means whereby one of the conveyors.

" may be disposed out of its normal position to separate it from the other conveyor at the point,

and means for maintaining the other conveyor.

in substantially -its normal position irrespective veyor, whereby the heads of sheets of length cut by the cutters from the web when the rotary cutter is actuated at a peripheral speed greater than the speed of travel of the web become mounting and tensioning of the first-named conveyor@ the second-named roll means comprising a roll normally disposed in engagement with the rst-named conveyor at a predetermined pointl topermit the conveyors'normally to grip the heads yof the sheets between -the roll and the first-named conveyor .as the sheets are received from the cutters, and means for separating. the roll fro'm the first-named conveyor to permit the heads of the sheets to 'pass freely between the conveyors withoutbecoming gripped by the roll at the predetermined point.

8.v In a machine having 'a stationary cutter and a cooperating rotary cutter for cutting a traveling web into sheets 'of predetermined length substantially equal to or greater than the length of the peripheral path of travel of the rotary cutter and cooperating conveyors normally engaging at a predetermined point to grip the heads of the sheets at the predetermined point as the sheets are received from the cuttersto feed the sheets, a method enabling the machine to. feed sheets of -length smaller than the said predetermined length and cut by the cutters from the web when the rotary cutter is actuated at a peripheral speed greater than the speed of travel e of the web, th said method comprising separating the conveyors at the predetermined point to permit the heads of the said smaller-length sheets to pass freely between them at the predetermined point.

Louis I..` Ma'rrnnws. 

